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AGTA Announces 2015 Spectrum Award Winners | October 29, 2014 (0 comments)
Dallas, TX—The American Gem Trade Association on Monday announced the winners of the 2015 AGTA Spectrum Awards. Judging for the design competition, now in its 31st year, was held October 25-26 in New York, and the winners were unveiled to the media on October 27.
Judges this year included: Jerrold Green, of Reginald C. Miller; Myriam Gumuchian of Gumuchian; Joseph Mardkha of ColorMasters; Tim McClelland of McTiegue & McClellan; Larry Pelzel of Neiman Marcus; and Dr. Jeffrey Post, Smithsonian Institution. Entries were judged on the basis of overall beauty and wearability, innovative design, effective use of materials, quality of gemstones, quality of workmanship, broad-base consumer appeal and potential to generate positive publicity for natural colored gemstones.
“We were thrilled with the variety of entries at this year’s AGTA Spectrum Awards competition,” said AGTA CEO Douglas K. Hucker. “I did not envy the decisions that our judges had to make, yet I was pleased to see how carefully they deliberated over each and every decision they made, resulting in this year’s list of winners.”
The Bridal category was sponsored by The Knot. Platinum Honors awards were sponsored by the Platinum Guild International. Gem Diva awards were sponsored by WJA. All entries were eligible for Manufacturing Honors awards, which celebrate outstanding use of colored gemstones and cultured pearls in jewelry appropriate to be manufactured in production quantities. All entries judged for the Spectrum Awards competition also automatically qualified for Fashion Forward Honors judging, which recognizes outstanding use of colored gemstone and/or cultured pearls in trend-setting jewelry.
The overall winners are:
Best of Show (shown top of page): Leon Mege, Leon Mege, Inc., for a platinum ring featuring a 4.71 ct. Paraiba tourmaline accented with French-cut diamonds (1.31 ctw.).
Best Use of Color: Paula Crevoshay, Crevoshay, for "The Venus Bracelet" in 18k yellow gold, featuring freshwater baroque cultured pearls (91.43 ctw.) accented with pink and green Tourmalines (29.32 ctw.)
Best Use of Platinum and Color: Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design, for her platinum "Anemone" earrings (below) featuring Tanzanites (5.37 ctw.) accented with blue zircons (2.88 ctw.), purple sapphires (3.72 ctw.), tsavorite garnets (1.67 ctw.), indigo tourmalines (.40 ctw.) Paraiba tourmalines (.26 ctw.) and diamonds (.16 ctw.).
Best Use of Pearls: Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs, for an 18k rose gold necklace featuring white cultured pearls accented with pink diamonds.
Fashion Forward: Ion Ionescu, Ionescu Design, Inc., for an 18k yellow gold ring featuring a 36 ct. turquoise accented with a 9.2 mm Tahitian silver cultured pearl, Paraiba tourmalines (.32 ctw.) and diamonds (.43 ctw.).
Individual category winners were:
Bridal Wear, first place: Dierdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design, platinum "Anemone" earrings, as above. Second place and Manufacturing Honors: Laurence Bruyninckx, Laurence Bruyninckx, for an 18k rose and white gold ring featuring a .80 ct. golden beryl accented with orange citrines, orange sapphires and diamonds. Third place and Platinum Honors: Michael Endlich, Pave Fine Jewelry, for platinum earrings featuring diamond slices (7.07 ctw.) accented with diamonds (.67 ctw.). Platinum Honors: Michael Endlich, as above. Entry Platinum Innovation: Susan Drake, Spectrum Art & Jewelry, for platinum "Tilt-A-Whirl" ring featuring a 2.06 ct. Tanzanite accented with diamonds (1.63 ctw.). Gem Diva Award: Suzanne Kalandjian, Suzanne Kalan, for an 18k white gold necklace featuring a 30mm white topaz accented with white diamonds (3.70 ctw.). Manufacturing Honors: Laurence Bruyninckx, as above. Honorable Mention: Bella Campbell, Campbellian, for her platinum earrings featuring aquamarines (5.61 ctw.) and grossular garnets (3.51 ctw.) accented with diamonds (.56 ctw.).
Business/Day Wear, first place: Jennifer Rabe Morin, Gregore Joailliers, for an 18K rose gold ring featuring carved turquoise (29.0 ctw.) accented with amethyst cabochons (14.0 ctw.). Second place: Elizabeth Garvin, Elizabeth Garvin Fine, for an 18k gold and sterling silver "Jewel" ring featuring a 24.6 ct. green quartz accented with diamonds (.23 ctw.). Third place, Heath London, Heath London Jewelry, for 18K yellow gold and copper "In The Swim" earrings featuring Paraiba tourmalines (7.11 ctw.) accented with pink tourmalines (2.23 ctw.) and diamonds (.80 ctw.). Platinum Honors: Phillip Dismuke, Jewelsmith, for platinum "Blooming" ring featuring a 21.40 ct. opal accented with spessartite garnets (1.35 ctw.) and diamonds. Gem Diva Award: Elizabeth Garvin, as above. Manufacturing Honors: Ryan Roberts, Ryan Roberts, Ltd., for an 18k yellow gold ring featuring a 11.25 ct. chrysocolla accented with tsavorite garnets (.56 ctw.) and diamonds (.62 ctw.).
Classical, first place: Leon Mege, as above. Second place: Heena Chheda, Real Gems, Inc., for an 18K white gold "Ophion's Treasure" ring featuring emeralds (6.74 ctw.) accented with diamonds (2.19 ctw.). Third place: Evelyn Huang, China Art & Fine Jewelry, Inc., for an 18k yellow and white gold "Midnight Kiss" ring featuring a 5.76 ct. unheated blue sapphire accented with white and yellow diamonds (1.18 ctw.), blue sapphires (.91 ctw.) and tsavorite garnets (.79 ctw.). Platinum Honors: Rex McClure, Sohn & McClure Jewelers, for a platinum ring featuring a 4.16 ct. emerald accented with white diamond baguettes (1.20 ctw.) and yellow diamonds (.21 ctw.). Entry Platinum Innovation: Mimi Favre, Mimi Favre Studio, for platinum "Etude d'Vert" earrings featuring tapered drops of shades of green tourmalines (15.50 ctw.). Gem Diva Award: Caroline Chartuni, Caroline C, for an 18k white gold "Astra" ring featuring a 24.16 ct. star sapphire accented with diamonds (8.08 ctw.). Manufacturing Honors: Deirdre Featherstone, Featherstone Design, for a platinum ring featuring a 5.81 ct. green sapphire accented with diamonds (3.87 ctw.).
Evening Wear, first place: Maria Canale, Suna Bros. Inc., for a platinum and 20k pink gold bracelet featuring multi-colored natural spinels (44.31 ctw.) accented with white diamonds (6.80 ctw.) and pink diamonds (1.00 ctw.).
Maria Canale's bracelet for Suna Bros.
Evening Wear, second place: Erica Courtney, Erica Courtney, Inc., for 18k yellow gold "Milky Way" earrings featuring opal drops (46.06 ctw.) accented with diamonds (1.98 ctw.) and Paraiba tourmalines (2.03 ctw.). Third place: Gil, Gil Int'l, for a platinum ring featuring a 6.50 ct. alexandrite accented with diamonds. Platinum Honors: Cara Becker Lichtenstein, My Blue Heaven, for a platinum bracelet featuring multicolored tourmalines (7.26 ctw.) accented with diamonds (1.29 ctw.). Gem Diva Award: Maria Canale, Suna Bros. Inc., as above. Manufacturing Honors: Linda Quinn, Linda Quinn Designs, for a 14k white gold ring featuring a 6.11 ct. pink tourmaline accented with diamonds (1.24 ctw.). Honorable Mention: Wendy Brandes, Wendy Brandes Jewelry, for an 18k pink gold "Pink Elephant & Tipsy Writer Maneater" ring featuring a pink sapphire elephant (2.0 ctw.) accented with a ruby and brown and white diamonds (2.23 ctw.).
Erica Courtney's "Milky Way" earrings, above.
Men’s Wear, first place: Dawn Muscio, D. Muscio Fine Jewelry Studio, for 18K red gold and stainless steel "Pink2" cufflinks (below) featuring pillow cut Morganites (8.74 ctw.) accented with rubies (.87 ctw.) and diamonds (.60 ctw.).
Men's Wear, second place: Mark Schneider, Somewhere in the Rainbow, for a platinum ring featuring a 16.73 ct. tourmaline accented with yellow diamonds (.67 ctw.) and tsavorite garnets (1.02 ctw.). Third place: Micheal Kanners, Michael Kanners, for 18K blackened gold cufflinks featuring Tanzanites (20.06 ctw.) accented with tsavorite garnet (6.5 ctw.). Platinum Honors: Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs, for platinum "His and His" rings featuring brown natural diamonds (5.68 ctw.). Honorable Mention: William Travis, William Travis Jewelry, for an 18k yellow gold and sterling silver ring featuring a 13.17 ct. citrine.
Concurrently, AGTA’s Cutting Edge Awards recognizes excellence and creativity in the lapidary arts, including natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls, carvings, and other gem materials. This year’s winners were:
Classic Cut Gemstones, first place: Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co., for a 20.24 ct. emerald-cut unheated yellow sapphire. Second place: Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp., for a 19.06 ct. brilliant, step-cut unheated blue sapphire. Third place: Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp., for a 5.00 ct. oval pink sapphire. Honorable Mention: Alan Hackman, Intercolor, for a 38.06 ct. blue sapphire.
All Other Faceted, first place: Hemant Phophaliya, AG Color, Inc., for a 43.96 ct. oval cabochon Tanzanite. Second place, Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad's, for a 12.99 ct. oval mint grossular garnet. Third place: Mikola Kukharuk, for a 28.21 ct. Imperial topaz. Honorable Mention: Mikola Kukharuk, for a 115.48 ct. emerald-cut Heliodor.
Phenomenal Gemstones, first place: Robert Shapiro, for a natural split pair of boulder Opals (60.50 ctw.).
Pairs and Suites, first place: Dalan Hargrave, Geogem-USA, for a rhodolite garnet suite (138.49 ctw.). Second place: Mikola Kukharuk, Nomad's, for a pair of Imperial topaz (70.14 ctw.). Third place: Hemant Phophaliya, A G Color, Inc., for fancy pear-shaped Tanzanites (88.30 ctw.). Honorable Mention: Allen Kleiman, A. Kleiman & Co., for a suite of pear-shaped unheated yellow sapphires (57.73 ctw.).
Innovative Faceting, first place: John Dyer, John Dyer & Co. - 63.19 ct. fancy round curprian tourmaline. Second place: John Dyer, a 67.92 ct. swirling "Nebula" ametrine. Third place: John Dyer, a 19.43 ct. "Royal Velvet" Tanzanite.
Carving, first place: Naomi Sarna, Naomi Sarna Designs - "Rose de France" Amethyst carving (1015 ctw.). Second place: Bernie Benavidez, Master Jewelers, "The Eye of Genesis" Opal carving (260 ctw.). Third place: Darryl Alexander, Nirinjan - 102 ct. specialty-cut sunstone.
Objects of Art, first place: Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc., for a black chalcedony perfume bottle with a carved Mexican fire opal flower stopper (42.30 ctw.) accented with 18k yellow gold. Second place: Darryl Alexander, for 18k yellow gold and sterling silver "Doctor's Orders," featuring black jade accented with crystal opal and mammoth ivory. Third place: Alishan Halebian, Alishan, for 18k yellow gold and oxidized sterling silver letter opener/dagger featuring fossil walrus ivory accented with rubies (6.09 ctw.), sapphires (3.98 ctw.), white diamonds (.15 ctw.) and black diamonds (.75 ctw.). Honorable Mention: Adam Ramseyer, Ramstar Designs, a sterling silver and 14k gold spacecraft pendant with docking station featuring a 30 ct. fantasy-cut ametrine accented with tourmalines, emeralds, alexandrites, lazulites, tsavorite garnets, amethysts, diamonds and sapphires.
This year's AGTA Spectrum Awards recipients will be recognized during the AGTA Dinner Dance and Awards Gala, 7:00 pm, Saturday, February 7, during the AGTA GemFair in Tucson, AZ. Tickets for the gala are $100 and cocktail attire is encouraged. For more information on the awards or the gala or the GemFair show, call (800) 972-1162 or visit http://www.agta.org.